Fuse for projectiles.



No. asnm. Patented Aug. a, |399 H. P. MEnmAm.

FUSE FOR PRDJECTILES.

' (Application led OctA 26, 1898.)

(No Modei.)

Wfl/)May UNTTTED STriTcs PATENT @Trient .HENRY l. MERRIAM, OF NEiV-"ORK, N. Y.

FUSE FOR PROJECTEL'ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 630,621, dated August 8, 1899.

Applieetioii filed October 26, ISQB. Serial No. 694,587. (Nompdcld T0 @ZZ whom, it WILLI/concern:

3e it kno-vn that I, HENRY i. Marsman, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and-State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuses for Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in percussion-fuses for projectiles, my object being to simplify and improve the structure and operation of such fuses to insure greater' safety in handling the projectiles and certainty in exploding the shell after it strikes the target. f

'lo these ends my invention consists, broadly, of a fuse-body adapted to be secured in the base of a projectile and formed with a hammer-chamber and a bolt cavity or socket, a hammer supported in the chamber and having a securing pin or shank connected with and projecting from it throuffh a suitable opening into the bolt socket or cavity transversely of the path of movement of the bolt and constructed and arranged to yield and break under a transverse bending strain, and a bolt supported in the bolt cavity or socket and exposed to the gas-pressure of the propelling charge ofthe gun, to be forced thereby against the securing-pin to bend the pin laterally and break it off from the hammer to thereby release the hammer in its chamber. Normally the hammer is supported in inoperative position in one end of its chamber by the securing-pin, which is suitably held in the bolt cavity or socket. The hammer end of the securing-pin is held aga-inst substam.

` bending strain, it is possible to use, with a socket, the hammer being supported in inoperative position in one end of its chamber by the engagement of the pin-head with the wall of the bolt cavity or socket, and a bolt supported freely in the bolt socket or cavity in engagement with the head of the securingpin and exposed at its outer end to the gaspressure of the propelling charge of the gun, to be forced thereby against the securing-pin head for bending the pin laterally and breaking off the head from the pin to release the hammer in its chamber.

In the forms of fuse shown in the drawings the hammer-securing head .which rests in the bolt cavity or socket is preferably spherical and the bolt is nnattached to the head, but rests againstthe head, so that when the bolt is forced forward in its cavity or socket by the firing of the gun charge the spherical head will be forced along the bolt-cavity in front of the bolt and transversely of the length of the pin or shank-which secures the head to the hammer, so as to brealcthe head from the pin and release the hammer in its chamber. The rounded or spherical shape of the securing-head is in y lortant, as it aifords' an effective leverage for brcakingoi the head by the movement of the bolt.

curing-pin in place, means must also be provided for confining the bolt in its socket.

In the preferred construction of the fuse embodying my invention the inner end ofthe I o'o fuse-body is threaded to receive an annular head formed with a conical or dished inner face in which is seated a radial series of firingpins and primers, the primers being in communication with a common combustion or tiring chamber in which is supported a slowburning or delay charge, and the annular fuse-head is closed by a hollow plug or cap containinga quick-burning igniting charge, which is contil ned in the plug or cap by a disk or diaphragm secured in place by upsetting the metal of the plug or cap upon the disk or diaphragm. The chamber of the plug or cap has a central opening communicating with the combustion or firing chamber, through which the flash from the slow-burning charge communicates with the quick-burning igniting charge. The explosion of the quick-burning charge ignites the bursting charge oi` the shell, the disk or diaphragm being perforated to allow the flame to communicate with the burstingl charge or adapted to be blown from its seat for this purpose.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will first describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings and afterward point out the novelty `.vith more particularity in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figure l is a sectional View of a portion of a shell representingr my improved fuse applied thereto, the parts being in the position they assume before the shell is iired. Fig. 2 is a sectional view oi' the fuse, showing the hammer liberated and in the position assumed, when detonating the primers, at the instant the velocity of the shell is suddenly checked, as When striking a target. Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the arrangement of the plurality of the primers or fulminates and their firing-pins. Fig. e is a de tail plan view oi the fuse-body, the primer head or carrier and the hammer being removed to show the peculiar shape of Opening leading from the hammer-cham ber to the bolt socket or cavity. Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of the delay-valve containing the slow-burning or delay charge of explosive. Fig.' 6 is a detail plan view of the cap containing the quick-burning charge, sho wingaslight modification. Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of my fuse.

In the-base of the shell 1 is formed an in teriorly-hreadcd opening into whieh the body 2 0'1": my improved fuse is screwed. 'lhe fusebody 2 is formed with a hammer-chamber 3, having a Ihemispherical lower portion 3, in which the spherical hammer 4 normally rests. The hammer i is provided with "spherical retaining-head 5, attached to it by a reduced shank or pin The hammer 4, head 5, and shank or pin G are preferably turned out in an integral piece, out the head and shank .may be separately formed and secured to the hammer in any suitable manner.

is the bolt cavity or socket, formed in and vextendingtransversely of the body ofthe fuse and open at one end to expose the firing bolt or piston to the pressure of the gases of the propelling charge of the gun.

8 is an inclined circular opening leading from the lower portion 3 of hammer-chamber into the bolt-cavity 7, and S is a semicircular notch formed in the inner wall of opening 8, the notch' 8 being in the central longitudinal line of the fuse-body and the enlarged opening or passage S being to one side of said central line, and the opening 8 and notch S forming a locking-eyelet for the hammer-retaining head 5, as hereinafter explained.

i) isacylindrical bolt orpiston resting freely in the bolt socket or cavity 7 and confined against the head 5 by means oi' a pin l0, passing transversely across the outer end of socket7 and seated in the Walls oi' the socket. In locking the hammer 4E in place the head 5 is passed through opening S into bolt-cavity 7, and the hammer 4 is rotated slightly in its seat 3 to bring the pin 6 into the notch 8 and the head 5 in the bolt-socket. The bolt 9 is then slipped into its socket against head 5 and secured by pin l0. The bolt or piston 9 has its outer end bored out slightly to form an annular flange 9, which can be expanded into close contact with wall of boltsocket or cavity '7 to prevent the passage of powdergases past the bolt 9 into the habituer-chainber. If preferred7 the usual soft-metal gasket or thimble (not shown) may beemployed to prevent the passage of powder-gases. The bolt or piston 9 is of sufficient length to shut ofi communication between opening S aud open end of socket 7 whether the bolt is in its normal outer position or its inner position, which is assumed after firing.

In Fig. I have illustrated a modified form of the above-described hammer securing and releasingdevice. In this form of the device the hammer and retaining pin and head are the same as in the preferred form shown in Figs. l and i?. The bolt cavity or socket 7 is, however, bored through from side to side of the fuse-body and is reamed ont to a larger diameter for one-half of its length to receive a tubular plug 12, having a solid threaded head l2?, which is threaded into the enlarged bore of the belt-cavity. The bore of the tubular plug 12 is of the same diameter as the bolt socket or cav-ity 7, forming a continuation thereof` for the purpose hereinafter eX- plained. The locking-eyelct 8 S, communi- 'eating between the hammer-chamber 3 and bolt-cavity 7", is in this modified form of the device arranged to communicate with the enlarged bore of the bolt-cavity farthest away from the open end thereof, so that when the hammer-retaining head 5 is passed through opening 8 into the bolt-cavity and the tubular plug 12 is put in place the inner edge of the plug will engage the pin o' and hold it snugly in place in the notch the head 5 engaging the inner wall of the bolt-cavit);Y and inner wall of the plug for firmly supporting the hammer in its seat 3*.

The inner end of the fuse-body 2 is interi` orly threaded for the reception ofthe annular head or primer-carrier 20, which is formed` with a series of passages 2l, leadiug from the hammerchamber 3 to a combustion-chamber 22, and a. series of sockets 23, in which are mounted the primers orfulmmate-patches 2l, which rest against the tiring-lugs 25. 26 are ball-firing pins, also secured in the sockets 23 in contact with the primers 24.

27 are openings leading from the primers to the combustion-chamber 22.

30 is a cylindrical controller or delay valve, formed with a central stem 3l, which rests in the central cylindrical socket 232, formed in the head 20. The valve $50 rests normally upon the central annular flange 20 of the head 20. cuts or notches 30, and packed tightly within the recess in the face of the valve and in the cuts or notches 30 is the delay-bu rning charge 35, of any suitable material.

It will he observed that the radial cuts or notches 30n ex- `pose small parts of the tightly-packed charge -havingachamberl0n within'which is acked b 7 p the quick-burning charge 41. The chamber 40 has a central opening 4Gb, which forms a communication between the combustionchamber 22 and the quick-burning charge 41.

In Fig. 1, 4l is a dished disk of very thin Celluloid placed in cap 10 beneath the charge 41 to prevent the loosely-'packed charge sifting through opening 40 into the'combustionchamber 22. The dash from the delay charge 35 readily pierces the Celluloid l1 l'or igniting charge 41.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a wad of `guucotton 41", serving the same purpose as disk 41 of Celluloid. The chamberll)n is closed bya disk 43,'whieh rests upon a flange or shoulder in the chamber and'is secured by upsetting the surrounding metal of the plug or cap 40 upon the disk. The upset portion is indicated at 44. The disk 43 is blown oil by the charge 4l to fire the shell-hure ting charge. As shown in Fig. 6, the disk 43 may be formed with a number of perforations 43a, to allow the flash of charge 4l to pass into the bursting charge of the shell without necessarily blowing oil the disk- 43.

The inner face of the head 20 is dished or formed with a conical socket, in which the ball-receiving openings 225 are formed. the center ot' the conical socket is formed a cylindrical recess in which rests a small conical spring 5U, which is adapted to engage the hammer l for stcadying it and preventing its knocking against its casing during llight. NVhen the velocity of the shell ai'ter tiring is retarded, as when strikinga larget, the spring 50 is easily compressed by the hammer and docs not apprcciably interfere with the detouation ol the primers.

The controller-valve SO has radiall The parts of my improved fuse are assembled as follows: The hammer 4 and the attached piu l and head 5 are placed in theI hammer-chamber 3 of the fuse-body and inclined slightly, and in this position the head 5 is passed through opening S. Thehammer and attached parts are then rotated slightly', the hammer moving in its seat 3 to bring head 5 in proper position in bolt-socketand pin h' in the notch S. The bolt 9 sthen placed in its socket against the head 5, and the pin l() or other equivalent device is secured in place. The bolt 9 holds the head in position and prevents its sidewise movement toward opening S, the head engaging the Wall ot` the socket to support the hammer l in its seat 5. The hammer end of the securingpin is held against -lateral movement, while the headed end of the securingpin in the bolt'cavity or socket is in position to be exposed to a transverse strain exerted upon it by the bolt when the latter is forced forward in its cavity by the gas-pressure lof the propelling charge of the gun. This transverse strain upon the securing-pin breaks it to free the hammer. The head 20, with its attached parts, is screwed in place in the fuse-body, when the fuse is ready to be applied to the shell. i

In the modified form shown in Fig. 7 the tubular plug being removed the hammer 3 is put in place in the fuse-body,\vith thehead 5 in the bolt-socket, as above explained,l and the tubular plug is then screwed into position in the enlarged and threaded end of the boltsockct, engaging the piu (l of the head 5 to hold the parts in position. 1n this form kof the device the bolt 9 rests against the head 5 on the opposite side of plug 12 and need not be. secured as in the preferred form.

The fuse being applied to theY projectile withthe parts as shown in Fig. 1 theproject ile is tired from the gun. 'lhelp'ressure ol` the exploded propelling charge of the gun which expels the projectile forces the bolt or piston 9 longitudinally in its socket or cavity 7, the inner end ot'v the bolt or piston engaging the spherical head 5 of the hammer-retaining pin. (3 and forcing it along the socket or cavity 7, straining and bending the pin (3 laterally, causing it to break and freeing the hammer 4, as shown in Fig. 2. The engagement of the plane surface of the inner end of the bolt or piston 9 with the curved face of the spherical head 5 alords ample leverage for readily breakingthe pin 6, the head tending to roll against the surface of socket 7 to assist in the breaking action. During the flight ot' the projectile the hammer4 rests under the force of spring 50 in the,hem ispherical recess 3f of the hammer-chamber andthe controller-valve 30. carrying theslowburningY charge 35, rests against the centra-l annular llange 20 of the combustion-head 20, as shown in Fig. 1. As soon asthe projectile strikes the targetA its velocity will be suddenly checked, and the hammer -t will. be

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forced to the inner end of its chamber, compressing spring 50 and striking one or lmore of the ring-pin balls 23, and the valve 30 will be forced against the inner face of the cap or plug i0.

The percussion of hammer ylagainst one or more of the firing-pin balls 23 detonates one or more of the primers 24,'and the flash from thc primers passes into the combustion-cham- -between the surfaces by the delay charge forces the valve back against the annular seat 20f. As soon as the valve 8O is returned to seat 20 the lire reaches over the unburned delay charge and passes to the center of the quick-burning charge Il, piercing the celluleid 4l or igniting the guncotton il and exploding the charge Il, blowing out the disk 3 (or dashing through perfor-ations 431) and igniting the burstingcharge of the projectile.

The operation of the lnodilied form shown in Fig. 7 is practically the same as the preferred form. The bolt f), engaging' head 5, breaks the head from the pin 6, the pin being supported bythe engagement ofthe tubular plug l2 and the head being forced into the bore of the plug. y

It will be observed that in both the preferred and modified forms of the fuse the locking eyelet or opening which communicates between the haminer-chamber and bolt cavity or socket comprises an enlarged hole or opening S, extending through the bottom yof seat 3 at one side of the central longituv;

dinal line of the fuse-body, and a contracted portion or notch 8, extending through the bottom of seat 3 in the central longitudinal line of the fuse-body. The enlarged portion of the eyelet or opening permits the passage of the round hammer-retaining head into the bolt-cavity, and the contracted portion or notch receives the pin or shank of the head.

In both forms means must be provided for holding the head against accidental sidewise movement toward the enlarged part 8 of the eyelet or opening. In the preferred lform of the device the bolt 9 holds the head inlocked position, while in the modified form the tubular-plug holds thehead in position.

The principal useful and desirable result derived from my improved arrangement is the greatest possible safety with a given force available for releasing the hammer,-whereby the hammer can be more effectively secured against accidental release previous to the iiring oi' the shell. vit is evident that the limitation of the force. holding the hammer in its seat in the fuse-body is the direct tensile strength of the smallest cross-section of the retaining pin or shank, and the strain, set up by accidental shocks to which the fuse is subjected previous to tiring, which would tend to release the hammer in its chamber would almost entirely be that of direct tension upon `the pin or shank, while the force necessary to the release of the hammer in its chamber is a transverse bending force controllable by a sharp groove Aor thread cut in a single short section of the pin or shank.' The disparity be; tween these two forces can be readily shown by taking a small metal rod,prei`erably steel,hav ing a sharp circumferential groove cut into it at a point midway of its length. this grooved rod by a transverse bending strain concentrated at the reduced section would require only a small fraction of the force necessary to disrupt the rod by direct tension or shearing.

By the expression used in the specification and claims the securing pin or shank connected with the hammer I mean to cover anyand all means of connecting or joining the securing pin or shank and hammer whether the pin or shank is screwed into thc-hammer or is formed integral with the hammer or passes loosely through the hammer and con lines the hammer upon it by means of a head or enlargement or other coniining means orany other connection whereby the hammer is supported in its chamber by the pin or shank.

I wish it. to be lunderstood that my inven tion is broadly distinguishable from those fuses in which the hammer is released by directly shearing or cutting off its securing-pin between the coaeting surfaces of the bolt and wall of the bolt-cavity in that in my invention the'securing-pin is subjected to a transverse bending strain by the forward movement of the bolt to break the pin and release the hammer. I believed am the first to break the securing-pin bya bending strain to release the ham mer as distinguished from shear- To break IOO tog

ing or cutting olli the pin lto release the haml piston supported in said bolt cavity or socket,

so as to be exposed to the gas-pressure of the propelling charge of the gun and adapted to be forced forwardly in its socket thereby, to strain the securing-pin laterally and bend and break the same for releasing the hammer in its chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. ln a percussion-fuse `lor projectiles, the

Having thus described my invention, what Y. I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters combination of a fuse-body having a ham merchamber and a bolt socket or cavity, a hammer in said chamber having a securing-pin attached to it and extending into and held within said bolt cavity or socket to support lthe hammer, said securing-pin being held at the hammer end against substantial lateral movement While .its other end is capable of lateral movement to eect the bending and breaking of the pin, and a bolt or piston supported in said bolt cavity or socket so as to be exposed to the gas-pressure of the propelling charge of the gun and adapted to be forced forwardly in its socket thereby, to strain the securing-pin laterallyand bend and break the same for releasing the hammer in its chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. A percussion-fuse for projectiles comprising a fuse-body having a hammer-chamber and a bolt cavity or socket, a hammer having a securing-head attached to it and resting in the bolt cavity or socket, said head engaging the Wall of the boltcavity or socket the chamber, a pin secured to the hammer passing through an opening between the hammer-chamber and bolt cavity or socket and provided with rounded head which rests in the bolt cavity or socket and by its engagement therewith supports the hammer in its chamber, and a bolt or piston supported in the bolt cavity or socket in position to be exposed to the pressure of gas of the propelling charge of the gun and adapted to be forced 4and a contracted part or notch, a hammer in the hammer-chamber, arounded head having its pin or shank secured to the hammer, the head being adapted to be passed through the enlarged part of the locking-eyelet into the bolt eavityor socket and the pin or shank to engage in the contracted part o1` notch of the eyelet,and a bolt or piston freely supported in the bolt cavity or socket in position to be exposed to the gas-pressure of the propelling` charge of the gun and adapted to engage the rounded head and force it to one side to break the pin and release the hammer, substantially as set forth.

6. A percussion-fuse for projectiles comprising a fuse-body having a hammer-chamber and a bolt cavity or socket communicating with the ham merchamber th rough a locking eyelet or opening having an enlarged part and a contracted part or notch, a hammer in the hammer-chamber, a rounded head having its pin or shank secured to the hammer, the head being adapted to be passed through the enlarged. part of the locking-eyelet into the bolt eavityor socket and the pin or shank to engage in the contracted part or notch of the eyelet, a bolt or piston supported in the bolt cavity or socket in engagement with the rounded head and exposed tothe gas-pressure of the propelling charge of the gun, and a device retaining the bolt in its socket, sbstantially as set forth.

HENRY r. Mmm/xm 

